Phalaenopsis orchid plant named &#39;Rubicon&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘Rubicon’ particularly characterized by flowers which are white, within the labellum some yellow and some purple; plants which may be propagated economically and uniformly using tissue culture; plants which produce more than one inflorescence; long and sturdy inflorescences; and relatively short, dark-green foliage.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

Phalaenopsis

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Rubicon’

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/478,790, filed Apr. 25, 2011 and Netherlands Plant Breeders' Rights Application No. OPS831, filed Aug. 18, 2011. The disclosure of both prior applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis of the Orchidaceae family, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Rubicon’.

Phalaenopsis comprises a genus of about 55 species of herbaceous perennials many of which, or the hybrids thereof, are suitable for cultivation in the home or greenhouse. Phalaenopsis is predominantly epiphytic or rock-dwelling, and is native to tropical Asia, the Malay Archipelago, and Oceania. The species typically has 2-ranked, fleshy, oblong or elliptic leaves affixed to a short central stem (monopodial growth), which vary in size from 5 to 8 inches to over 2 feet. The leaves may be entirely green or mottled with silver grey.

Phalaenopsis orchids, often referred to as ‘Moth Orchids’ in the horticultural trade, are frequently used to furnish cut flowers for the florist trade or sold as flowering potted-plants for home or interiorscape.

Phalaenopsis produces upright or pendent lateral racemes, often with many showy flowers which open in succession beginning with the lowermost. The flowers possess three sepals and three petals; the lateral ones being alike. The lowermost petal, called the labellum, is three-lobed and is often more brightly-colored than the other flower segments. Flower colors include various shades of pink, white, yellow and red-brown.

Phalaenopsis orchids are typically propagated from seeds. Asexual propagation of Phalaenopsis is often done from off-shoots which frequently arise from the lower bracts of the inflorescence. The resulting plants are detached from the mother plant and may be planted in a suitable substrate.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Rubicon’ is a product of a controlled breeding program conducted by the inventors, René Schoone, in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to develop a new Phalaenopsis cultivar particularly characterized by its attractive and unique colored flowers, economical propagation via tissue culture, rapid growth, and a plant dimension suitable for packaging and shipping to the market.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Rubicon’ originated from a cross made by the inventor in 1998 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The female or seed parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘Winter Kaala×amabilis’, unpatented. The male or pollen parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘Spring Song’, unpatented. The new Phalaenopsis ‘Rubicon’ was discovered and selected by the inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in 2006 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phalaenopsis cultivar by tissue culture was first performed in November, 2006 in Cieweg 13, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, and has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true to type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘Rubicon’, which in combination distinguish this Phalaenopsis as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. flowers which are white, within the labellum some yellow and         some purple;     -   2. plant produces more than one inflorescence;     -   3. plants may be propagated economically and uniformly using         tissue culture;     -   4. inflorescence is long and sturdy     -   5. relatively short, dark-green foliage

Presently, there is no commercial cultivar to which ‘Rubicon’ can be meaningfully compared.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Phalaenopsis ‘Rubicon’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the color of ‘Rubicon’.

FIG. 1 shows a side view perspective of a typical flowering plant of ‘Rubicon’ in a 12 cm pot, at 16 months of age.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the typical buds and flowers of ‘Rubicon’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of the typical leaves of ‘Rubicon’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘Rubicon’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of the plant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe plants of ‘Rubicon’ as grown in a greenhouse in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. Initially, the ideal temperature to grow plants of ‘Rubicon’ is 27° C. during the day and at night. Then, during the flowering phase of ‘Rubicon’, the ideal growing temperature is 20-22° C. during the day and 18° C. at night. Light levels for growing ‘Rubicon’ are a minimum of 5,000 lux and a maximum of 10,000 lux. A balanced fertilizer with level of 200 ppm N, 87 ppm P, 168 ppm K is applied. Duration of growth of ‘Rubicon’ from potting size is between 10 and 14 months.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 2007 edition, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditions at approximately noon in Zaandammerweg, Assendelft, The Netherlands. The age of the ‘Rubicon’ plants described is 12 months after potting.

-   Classification:     -   -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female or seed parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated             ‘Winter Kaala×amabilis’, unpatented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated             ‘Spring Song’, unpatented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—tissue culture.         -   Rooting habit and description.—Fleshy; approximately 6 mm-9             mm wide and green in color; freely branching. It takes 12             weeks for plants growing in tissue culture to initiate             roots. -   Plant:     -   -   Size at maturity.—Height: about 60 cm Spread: about 58 cm.         -   Growth habit.—standard; dark-green leaves and a relatively             normal raceme.         -   Vigor.—moderate.         -   Crop time.—Following asexual propagation, at about 26 weeks             2 leaves appear; at about 30 weeks 3-4 leaves appear; after             a cold treatment of about 4-8 weeks at a temperature of             about 19° C. about 2 peduncles with flowers appear. -   Foliage:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—About 6 to 8 leaves are produced before             flowering.         -   Arrangement and attachment.—half up/horizontal and on two             sides.         -   Overall shape of leaf.—oval, the tip is blunt and             asymmetric.         -   Texture.—smooth and leathery.         -   Pubescence.—about 6 leaves.         -   Mature leaf length.—about 20 to 22 cm.         -   Mature leaf width.—about 8 to 10 cm.         -   Mature leaf thickness.—about 2 mm.         -   Mature leaf color.—RHS N137B.         -   Venation.—Pattern: parallel Color of midvein: dark green. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—about 1 to 2.         -   Number of flowers per peduncle.—about 10 to 14.         -   Length.—about 55 to 65 cm.         -   Diameter.—about 5 mm.         -   Strength.—strong.         -   Aspect.—upright.         -   Texture.—glabrous and smooth.         -   Color.—dark green.         -   Internode.—Length: about 40 mm -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—upright to slightly pendant, racemose             inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open             in succession beginning with the lowermost flower.         -   Inflorescence size.—Height (from base to tip): about 18 mm             to 28 mm Diameter (at midpoint): about 15 mm to 22 mm.         -   Flowering time.—For an untreated plant (flowering plant that             has not undergone cold-treatment where the plant grows at a             temperature of 18° C. to 19° C. for about 4 to 8 weeks after             a period of about 30 weeks at a temperature of 25° C.), 2             racemes appear with about 16 to 20 flower buds and flowers             per inflorescence. First flowers can be expected             approximately 4 to 6 months after planting a plant with a             leaf diameter of 3 to 5 cm. Flowers persistent.         -   Flowering longevity.—On the plant: about 4 to 6 months;             lastingness of cut flowers: has not been observed.         -   Fragrance.—no fragrance.         -   Flower.—Rate of opening: Flowers fully opened about 2 to 3             days after tepal separation. Orientation at opening: slanted             upward and outward. Shape: see picture Size: Height: about             85 mm Diameter: about 100 mm Depth of tube: about 18 mm.         -   Tepals.—Quantity and arrangement: six tepals that are             trimerous, overlapping and arranged in 2 whorls. Petals are             more pronounced than sepals.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Inner whorl of tepals comprises 3             petals, 2 lateral petals and labellum. 2 lateral petals:         -   Overall shape.—broadly ovate and weakly cupped.         -   Apex.—oval.         -   Margin.—weakly undulate.         -   Length.—about 60 mm.         -   Width.—about 50 mm.         -   Texture.—Upper surface: smooth and satiny Under surface:             smooth and satiny.         -   Color (when fully opened).—white (RHS NN155D).         -   Labellum.—         -   Overall shape.—3-lobed with 2 prominent callosities at             central junction of the lateral lobes and base of the             midlobe. Lateral lobes of labellum fold upward about the             column; the midlobe extends forward and is terminated by 2             short filiform appendages at the apex. Lateral lobes of the             labellum are ovate in shape while the midlobe is triangular             with a bump and a rib on it.         -   Margin.—entire and weakly undulate.         -   Length.—about 25 mm.         -   Width (not flattened).—about 24 mm.         -   Texture.—Upper surface: smooth and satiny.         -   Color (when fully opened).—The main color is white (RHS             NN155D). At the base of the lateral lobs some purple stripes             (RHS 59B) and at the bottom edges yellow/green (RHS 1A),             yellow (RHS 12A) and purple (RHS 183D). The pestle is yellow             (RHS 13B) with purple (RHS 59B) spots. The midlob is white             (RHS NN155D) with at the base yellow (RHS 1A/RHS 12A) and             some purple (RHS 183D).         -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Outer whorl of tepals comprises 3             sepals. Overall shape: Elliptical and weakly cupped Length:             about 50 mm Width: about 35 mm Texture: Upper surface:             smooth and satiny Color (when fully opened): white (RHS             NN155D). -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Arrangement.—The stamens, style and stigmas are fused into a             single, short structure called the column, possessing one             terminal anther with pollen grains united into a pollinia,             which are covered by an anther cap. The stigma is located             under the column behind the pollinia. The ovary is inferior             with three carpels present. The plant has not produced seed.         -   Column.—Length: about 8 mm Diameter: about 6 mm Color: white             (RHS NN155D).         -   Pollinia.—Quantity: Two Size: about 1 mm Color: orange (RHS             26B).         -   Ovary.—Length: about 5 mm Diameter: about 5 mm.         -   Pedicel.—Length: about 35 mm to 40 mm Diameter: about 4 mm. -   Disease/pest resistance/susceptibility: No specific resistance or     susceptibility observed -   Temperature tolerance: Tolerant to a low temperature of about 15° C.     and to a high temperature about 30° C. 

1. A new and distinct Phalaenopsis plant named ‘Rubicon’, as illustrated and described herein. 